Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique - Chapter 367 - 322: Piercing the Mist

Ji An recorded the news of the Spirit Field being attacked into the Communication Golden Sword, and then activated it.

A streak of golden light flew towards the Law Enforcement Hall on Yingri Peak, requesting to strengthen the patrol forces on the sect’s perimeter to prevent similar situations.

Another flew towards the Diligence Hall on Lingxiao Mountain, where he explained his decision about the heavy losses among the low-tier disciples to the hall.

Beside him, Lin Mao’s expression was somewhat stiff. The Hall Master usually didn’t make decisions, but once he did, he was unwavering.

Fortunately, he didn’t participate in the management of daily affairs, otherwise, there would be many ideological conflicts.

He slightly lowered his head and said:

“As you command, I will immediately assign more people to handle this matter.”

“Hold on, Hall Master Lin, please sit.”

Ji An stopped him, saying seriously:

“There’s an issue we haven’t discussed. Today, let’s talk about it.

The purpose of establishing the Agricultural Hall is to cultivate more high-tier Spirit Farmers and build a logistics force as large as that of Luofeng Valley.

However, over the past three years, the development of the Agricultural Hall has been mediocre and far from achieving this goal. Does Hall Master Lin have any brilliant ideas?”

He was being quite polite by saying ’mediocre’, as the Agricultural Hall had made little progress in cultivating Spirit Farmers.

Relying on a monthly lecture for the Spirit Farmer disciples, achieving the sect’s demands is almost impossible.

Lin Mao’s face showed a trace of bitterness as he said:

“Whether it’s a sect or a family, to develop, there must be enough disciples with exceptional talent.

The Hall Master knows the situation in the Agricultural Hall; the disciples we can allocate are mostly middle or lower grade, rarely top-grade talent.

If this situation cannot be resolved, the development of the Agricultural Hall is difficult!”

Ji An looked into his eyes calmly and said:

“The ancestor will not listen to such complaints. Think about how to achieve results under current conditions.

I don’t ask for much, just that within thirty years, the sect has two hundred Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers.”

Lin Mao shook his head, “That’s impossible. After the demon and calamity disasters, the sect has less than seven hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Currently, all excellent disciples are prioritized by the Law Enforcement Hall and Beast Taming Hall to replenish their numbers.

Only when the sect’s military strength is assured can we discuss other matters.”

There are only over seventy Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers, and this number is preserved only because there was no further depletion due to war.

In his view, without the addition of excellent talent disciples, meeting this requirement within thirty years is a pipe dream.

“Foundation Establishment Pill is also a big issue, and the sect’s Medicinal Garden has plans for the planting of various pills.

Increasing the planting of Spirit Medicine for Foundation Establishment Pills will inevitably affect the cultivation of other Spirit Medicines.

This will then affect the pill supply for Foundation Establishment cultivators, something the Diligence Hall will not allow.”

Cultivating Foundation Establishment is important, but the training of Foundation Establishment cultivators is equally crucial.

There’s also a very real concern: if the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators isn’t controlled, conflicts over resources are bound to increase.

An increase in Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers can enhance the sect’s foundation, but the emergence of so many Foundation Establishment cultivators will undoubtedly bring new issues.

Even if these Foundation Establishment cultivators do not use pills and only meditate to absorb spiritual qi daily, over time, the impact on the spiritual vein is not small.

Finally, Lin Mao concluded:

“The sect can indeed quickly increase the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but doing so would significantly burden the sect’s spiritual vein, making it unsustainable in the long run.”

The prolonged deficit of spiritual qi in the spiritual vein will inevitably cause the spirit vein grade to deteriorate slowly, which is the most deadly.

Ji An shook his head with a smile and said:

“Spirit Farmers can manage the earth qi to increase the concentration of earth vein spiritual energy; a Spirit Farmer is not a burden. The real burden on the spiritual vein comes from other cultivators.”

The Thick Earth Technique, Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, and the Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill he used all involve using the cultivator’s magical power to nourish the earth vein.

Over time, he could cultivate the spiritual vein of Red Flame Peak to the Tier Two Upper Grade through his own power.

Lin Mao sighed softly, smiling bitterly:

“That’s the rationale, but Spirit Farmers cannot protect the sect’s foundation; they can only serve as the sect’s cornerstone.”

While Spirit Farmers play a significant role, they hold no glory. If he had a choice back then, he wouldn’t have chosen to become a Spirit Farmer.

Ji An solemnly said:

“Let me give you an advance notice of my plan.

I intend to propose to the sect to reduce the enrollment of Spirit Farmer disciples.

At the same time, I will improve the disciples’ benefits, providing enough pill support after entering the sect. Any disciple who does not break through to mid-stage Qi Refining within a year will be dismissed.”

In his view, having early-stage Qi Refining disciples start planting Spirit Fields is entirely meaningless. After casting a few magic techniques, they run out of magical power, leaving them helpless!

“Additionally, I will screen and select the most suitable planting techniques for the disciples and form groups.

Each group will have three members, skilled in Earth Element, Wood Element, and Water Element respectively, with each specializing in one type of magic technique.”

There are very few all-rounder cultivators, but with innate talent, most cultivators can specialize in one type of magic technique.

Such an arrangement can achieve 1+1+1>3. Simply put, it’s a division of labor and cooperation model from his previous life.

When the abilities of three cultivators are combined, they can create far greater value than they could individually.

Lin Mao suddenly felt enlightened, understanding the benefits of such a change as a Spirit Farmer.

Combining everyone’s strengths covers individual shortcomings.

He had never considered this approach before.

Ji An continued:

“I will request the sect to change the existing rules. As long as a disciple achieves the perfection level in one planting technique, they can remain in the sect permanently.